Goodyear Honored as 2026 HR Excellence Award Finalist

The city of Goodyear has been selected as a finalist for the 2026 McLean & Company Excellence Awards, which recognize organizations that turn HR insight into measurable progress.

Goodyear was honored in the HR Management & Governance Excellence Award category for its use of diagnostic tools to assess team alignment, effectiveness and accountability, using those insights to strengthen HR operations and better support citywide priorities. This is Goodyear's first time being named a finalist, chosen from hundreds of submissions.

For more than 10 years, Goodyear has focused on what it calls the Intentional Design of Goodyear's Culture, investing in HR practices that emphasize employee engagement, professional growth and a strong workplace environment. As the city has grown rapidly, these efforts have contributed to meaningful results, including increased employee morale and retention and reduced costs related to turnover.

The recognition reflects Goodyear's commitment to using data and employee insights to continually evaluate and improve how teams work together and support the organization. These efforts align with the city's Strategic Plan focus area to be an Innovative & High Performing Organization.

"This honor shows that the work we've put into building a modern, supportive culture is making a real difference. When our employees are happy, engaged and empowered, they're better positioned to deliver the high-quality service our residents expect and deserve," said City Manager Bryan Langley.

"We don't just measure how we're doing. We use that information to get better. Our goal is to support employees in a way that helps them thrive and helps the organization move forward," said Human Resources Director Lyman Locket.

Award finalists were selected for demonstrating measurable advances in team alignment, HR effectiveness and initiatives that improve people and culture outcomes across their organizations.